Two days later, the thirty thousand strong army was fully equipped and set off directly for Hongping County. Liu Gang, as the garrison general of Pingyuan County, was left behind with five thousand old and weak soldiers. With the city walls as a barrier, the hastily dug moat, and the remaining Heaven-Shaking Thunder and Javelin Throwers inside the city, they could certainly hold out for a few days awaiting reinforcements if attacked.

Of the thirty thousand troops, ten thousand were integrated under the command of Ah San of the Imperial Stables. Naturally, with the consent of the supervising officer Ma Xiaowei—which I had previously requested—Ah San was exceptionally promoted to General. Although these ten thousand were not all elites, Ma Xiaowei insisted on "better to be chaotic than incomplete," so the decision was settled.

As for Ma Xiaowei, there was no progress between us beyond some chaotic fooling around in bed. This was because intimate moments had to wait until she was free from her period; it had only been a few days since her menses began, so there was no rushing it. Even though Ma Xiaowei was currently indisposed these past two days, she still visited frequently, always bringing along the duty of monitoring the relationship between Linglong and me, fearing that if she slipped behind Linglong, the Princess's reputation would be hard to maintain.

Accompanying the main army were five thousand civilian laborers. They were responsible for transporting supplies, caring for the wounded, cooking, and maintaining/manufacturing equipment. Additionally, they had to manage road repair and construction. Heavy rains had destroyed many sections of the road, requiring significant upkeep before passage was possible. Fortunately, the route was heavily forested, providing the necessary materials.

After reorganization, General Little Dingzi had five thousand men under his command, and Gu Qi commanded fifteen thousand. Since Gu Qi was a former Captain of the Guard, I felt obliged to show him some deference. Little Dingzi was merely a Battalion Commander, promoted to General rank exceptionally for his meritorious service during the uprising. However, promoting him directly to the same rank as Gu Qi might cause friction behind Gu Qi’s back, so Ma Xiaowei and I made the current arrangement.

Due to an abundance of weaponry, every Hundred-Man Squad could now be equipped with a Javelin Thrower. Constructing these devices was not difficult, though it required a considerable amount of beast sinew. Cui An had once considered substituting sinew with highly elastic wood, which might also increase range, but multiple trials all ended in failure. Since we were not short on sinew for now, the matter was dropped.

Each Hundred-Man Squad also possessed a calculated amount of Heaven-Shaking Thunder and improved small Thunder Grenade launchers, managed and operated by experienced soldiers. For the deployment of catapults, fire bombs, and smoke bombs, a specialized unit—the Siege Battalion—was established, similar to the artillery corps. They were responsible for large-scale siege operations, as catapults were extremely inconvenient to use and transport, making them unsuitable for small skirmishes and only effective for coordinated assaults.

The captured soldiers and new recruits were mostly issued wooden shields, which would offer substantial blockage against the rebel archers' arrows. The Imperial Guards, already burdened by their armor, were not given additional weight, so no shields were issued to them. I had initially intended to forge iron shields to relieve the physical strain on the heavily armored Imperial Guards, but the raw materials for iron shields were too scarce, forcing this matter to be postponed.

One thousand laborers had been sent ahead of the main force to repair roads, ensuring continuous movement. The journey, originally scheduled for seven days, concluded by the sixth day with our arrival on the outskirts of Hongping County. We passed several small towns along the way, but they had been ravaged by the preceding wave of reinforcements, leaving few inhabitants. Fortunately, our provisions were ample, negating any need for their aid. However, seeing the widespread destruction of the paddy fields along the route was deeply distressing; I could only hope the rebellion would be quelled soon so the farmers could regain some stability.

The main camp was established on a hill ten li outside Hongping County. Scouts reported that the forward detachment had engaged the two enemy garrisons outside Hongping County in a fierce battle. The engagement lasted less than an hour, ending in a decisive victory for our forces; the enemy retreated into Hongping County, bolted the three city gates, and refused further battle.

Following reorganization, the tactical unit changed from three men per Wu (five-man unit) to seven men per Wu, significantly boosting team combat effectiveness. Previously, three men could only cover each other’s backs; now, seven men formed two circles. The outer circle of four, armed with swords and shields, was tasked with aggressive assault. The inner circle of three, wielding long spears or bows, focused on exploiting gaps to inflict damage with thrusts or stray arrows. Furthermore, if anyone in the outer circle was injured, the inner circle could immediately detach personnel to fill the gap while rotating the wounded into the inner circle for rest.

This formation, combined with troop quality assessment, meant we were no longer inferior to the Red Turban rebels. Furthermore, the rebels held no advantage in weaponry; now, they were purely on the defensive. Retreating into Hongping County to rely on fortifications was a correct strategic choice, but their stronghold seemed insignificant in my eyes.

Inside the freshly pitched command tent, bustling with activity, I addressed the gathered officers: "Gentlemen, according to the operational plan we established, General Gu will assign five thousand men to each city gate of Hongping County for containment. General Ah San will command ten thousand to guard the main camp and prepare to intercept any reinforcements coming from Huyang Prefecture. General Ding will swiftly occupy the three surrounding hills, allowing the Siege Battalion to transport the catapults and ammunition to the peaks. I expect the catapults to be assembled and operational as soon as possible. By dawn tomorrow, our soldiers will have rested for the night, and we can commence the assault."

The generals acknowledged their orders and departed. Seeing me mobilizing troops for a direct assault, Ma Xiaorui asked, "Brother-in-law, are you certain? If not, perhaps we should use cunning, like in Pingyuan County, without losing a single soldier. I prefer battles like that."

I replied, "There aren't always such easy wins. Warfare cannot always rely on trickery. Besides, the three hills around Hongping County are our greatest advantage—we have the high ground and over-range weaponry. When the general offensive begins, we will seal the three city towers with fire. Tell me, how will they possibly defend then? In your world, fire attacks are the most devastating; they will have nowhere to hide."

Ma Xiaorui chuckled, "I have always been confident in Brother-in-law's abilities, but someone else isn't reassured, yet she fears you might find her too timid. Hmph, I'll just wait to see how long she can keep that up!"

Ma Xiaorui referred to 'someone' while glancing at Ma Xiaowei, making it clear who she meant. With no outsiders present in the command tent, Linglong and Ma Xiaorui had grown closer, so their conversation became less guarded. Linglong protested, "Ma Xiaorui, you must stop calling our master 'Brother-in-law.' It easily leads to misunderstandings."

Ma Xiaorui retorted, "Why can't I call him that? Who is misunderstanding? Sister Yun Yao is also my sister, so where am I wrong? If you’re jealous, you can call him 'Brother-in-law' too. Oh, I forgot, you don't have a sister. Even if you did, your calling wouldn't carry the weight of mine. Jealousy, you are jealous of me."

Ma Xiaowei and Yun Yao spoke in unison, "Go down, both of you undisciplined children! This is the Command Tent! How dare you two cause a commotion!"

Linglong and Ma Xiaorui glared at each other and left the command tent. Just as they reached the entrance, Ma Xiaorui seemed to have forgotten the preceding argument. She asked, "Where are you two eating tonight? We'll join you."

Linglong refused, "No, you always drink and drink. Master scolded me last time because of it."

Ma Xiaorui pleaded, "Then I promise not to drink this time, okay? It’s boring for just my sister and me to eat alone. What we eat isn't the key; the mood needs to be good."

Linglong conceded, "Alright then, it'll be livelier with more people. Master dislikes the kitchen food, and I’ve been cooking lately. Are you coming? It's messy and tiring."

Ma Xiaorui happily accepted, "Cooking for yourself? Yes, I’ll go! I’m not afraid of dirt or fatigue; it must be fun."

Linglong warned her, "I don't care if it's fun or not, but when you get to the kitchen, you must listen to me. If you mess up the food, I won't let you off lightly—at minimum, you’ll starve tonight."

Ma Xiaorui had never cooked before; agreeing to go was akin to accepting servitude. "Fine, I’ll listen to you. But arrange something for me to do. Tasting food I've made myself must be a delightful experience."

The two women departed. Yun Yao turned to Ma Xiaowei apologetically, "Your Highness, Linglong is young and speaks without thinking; please don't take offense."

Ma Xiaowei glanced covertly at me. "Sister Yun Yao, please stop treating us like princesses. We wish to live this ordinary life now. Haven't you noticed how happy Xiaorui has been recently? She and Linglong, they can't stand not bickering, but they fret when they don't see each other for a day."

I exited the tent and summoned a personal guard to call Ah Mao. He should have a clear idea of the situation inside Hongping County by now. The latest batch of scouts sent towards Huyang should also have returned with news. Now, I needed to plan three steps ahead; with our increased strength, we could no longer fight battles without confidence. Any mishap could cost hundreds or thousands of lives; I was responsible for them.

Ah Mao arrived quickly. His scouting force had also expanded significantly, growing from five hundred men to one thousand, and their methods for gathering intelligence had become increasingly sophisticated. "My Lord, when the Red Turban forces were routed, our men seized the opportunity to disguise themselves and infiltrate their ranks. They are now inside the city with the troops. We are just waiting for them to acquire intelligence and transmit it via the newly trained carrier pigeons. When we attack tomorrow, we can choose our targets with precision."

I nodded. "That’s good. We have too few horses, and only these two communication devices. Without other tools, we cannot acquire intelligence quickly. Do we know who the defending general inside the city is, and what his capabilities are?"

Ah Mao reported, "The situation of the garrison commander inside the city has been ascertained. Originally, there was only one general here, named Chunsheng. However, the news of Pingyuan County’s recapture enraged Prince Shou, who personally ordered the Eastern King to rush to Hongping day and night to supervise the battle..."

Ma Xiaowei interjected, "The Eastern King has arrived? Is this news highly unfavorable to us?"

Ah Mao confirmed, "Yes, Your Highness. Moreover, he brought a contingent of over ten thousand men. The defending force inside the city now exceeds twenty-five thousand. The enemy claims a total of thirty thousand. Although both the Eastern King and the defending general Chunsheng lack extensive combat experience, based on sheer numbers alone, this battle will not be easy."

I stated, "In any case, this will be a tough fight. Outside the Imperial Stables, we deliberately avoided killing the Central King. If we win this battle as well, it will clip both of Prince Shou’s arms. Later, we can slowly deal with the other princes. Their demise is not far off—let all the Human Kings and Earth Kings of the Southeast and Northwest descend to hell."

A round of laughter followed. Ah Mao continued, "My Lord, according to intelligence, feeling threatened by our court army, Prince Shou is beginning to consolidate his forces. It is reported that the Southern King, after occupying Huacheng, has halted his advance and is withdrawing troops. It is likely that the other surrounding princes are also redeploying forces back towards Huyang. Intelligence from Huyang Prefecture indicates that a few days ago, the Western King, the Heavenly King, and the Human King were seen drinking and socializing in Huyang. Since they have returned to Huyang Prefecture, it is probable that their respective armies will soon pull back to defend their peripheries, at which point the total force in Huyang might indeed exceed one hundred thousand."

This was not good news. I was already troubled by the prospect of a battle at Huyang, and now Prince Shou was concentrating his forces, likely intending to annihilate the Bandit Suppression Army in one decisive blow. I steered away from that issue and asked Ah Mao, "What about reinforcements arriving in Hongping?"

Ah Mao replied, "Besides the Eastern King’s reinforcement, we have not detected any other troop movements yet. However, there is a rumor that the Eastern King and the Northern King have always maintained a good relationship, and the Eastern King recently sent a secret letter to the Northern King. My guess is that Huyang is no longer sending reinforcements, so the Eastern King privately requested aid from the Northern King."

I nodded and inquired, "What is the situation with the Northern King? How many men do they have, and how far are they from Hongping County?"

Ah Mao responded, "Due to the mountainous terrain blocking our access, we could not thoroughly scout the Northern King’s rebel territory. I estimate the Northern King’s forces number around twenty to thirty thousand, primarily distributed across a large area north of Huyang Prefecture. The closest unit to Hongping County is more than ten days' journey away, as there is no direct route between the two locations; they must detour via Huyang."

Hearing that there were no immediate reinforcements, I smiled. "A ten-day journey? If they haven't mobilized yet, we have nothing to worry about. Though the enemy forces in Hongping County are numerous, they are trapped like turtles in a jar. We can clear Hongping County in at most three days. Even if the Northern King commits all his resources to aid them then, it will be useless. However, this battle risks harming many innocent civilians, which gives me pause."

Ah Mao urged, "My Lord, when a decision must be made, make it swiftly; hesitation leads to greater trouble. Liberating Hongping County sooner means the local populace will escape misery sooner. Intelligence suggests they live a life worse than pigs and dogs within the city, facing death at any moment. Even if our assault harms some civilians, a majority will be saved. We are doing them a kindness."

I laughed. "Alright, stop trying to persuade me. I am not a child; I certainly won't indulge in such sentimental weakness. Focus intelligence gathering on Huyang Prefecture. Also, what progress has been made in investigating that sorcerer who claims to refine the Elixir of Immortality? I have seen the Emperor’s edict, and I even received Grand Tutor Pang’s secret letter. They both instruct me to bring this person back to Shuāngchéng. It seems eternal life is a great temptation—both the Emperor and his close advisors dream of it."

Ah Mao reported, "My Lord, my men specifically investigated this sorcerer. He was recruited in Liuyang by a Thousand-Man Commander within Prince Shou's Red Turban Army. Few have seen his true appearance, and Prince Shou guards him closely since obtaining such a marvel. Thus, this is all we know. The Thousand-Man Commander who presented the sorcerer was promoted to General for his deed. He is heavily guarded, and his suspicion is deep, preventing our men from getting close enough to gather more information."

"Then reinforce the investigation team. We are about to march on Huyang soon. We must ensure he doesn't die amidst the chaos, or I won't be able to report back to the Emperor and Grand Tutor Pang. After all, we are currently earning our living under their authority. Whether eternal life is real or not is secondary; securing our livelihoods is paramount."

Ah Mao saluted. "Yes, my Lord. If there are no further instructions, I will go arrange the work."

"Go ahead. If anything urgent arises, contact me using the mobile phone—though I recall we've barely used them."

Ah Mao replied, "I dare not misuse such a treasure unless it is a moment of crisis."

Ah Mao left. Ma Xiaowei turned to me, "Marshal Zhao, do you truly believe in eternal life? I've never heard of such a thing. It sounds like seditious nonsense. I don't know why Father is so convinced and issued an order for you to find this person."

Yun Yao smiled silently. She hadn't believed in eternal life either, but she maintained a good relationship with the Dragon Girl. She had genuinely touched that beautiful woman who had lived for six thousand years, and there was also Little Xue, who hadn't even fully matured yet—she was only a child despite living six millennia, implying she needed thousands more years to become an adult. Therefore, hearing about eternal life now didn't shock her, nor did she deny it, but she wouldn't speak rashly.

I told Ma Xiaowei, "Your Highness, this is not about whether I believe it. Both sides are putting pressure on me, so I have to treat it seriously. After all, the temptation of eternal life, of never dying, is immense. Even your lofty father is not immune, let alone the aging Pang Hu."

Ma Xiaowei, basking in the happiness of new love, said, "I don't care about that. As long as I can be with the person I love, happily for a lifetime, that is enough."

I subtly reminded her, "Your Highness, what if the man you love could live for a thousand or ten thousand years? Wouldn't you wish to accompany him for that long?"

Ma Xiaowei looked at me in confusion. Of course, she knew who the 'beloved man' I referred to was. Hearing this, she gasped, "That... that's utterly impossible. No one lives for a thousand or ten thousand years. The longest-lived person I know is only over two hundred years old, and they look hideous in old age. I’d rather preserve my most beautiful moments for the man I love than have him see me grow old."

Yun Yao, seeing the conversation started, interjected beside Ma Xiaowei, "The longest-lived person I have met was over six thousand years old, and I saw a child who had been growing for six thousand years. In any world, there are many secrets unknown to us. We cannot deny their existence simply because we are unaware of them."

Ma Xiaowei had grown much closer to Yun Yao since studying the R-chest massage techniques with her. She asked, "Sister Yun Yao, if someone lives to be six thousand years old, haven't they lost all their hair, all their teeth, and their skin become drier than dead wood, looking almost like a corpse?"

Yun Yao took the mobile phone from my embrace and pulled up the Dragon Girl's picture to show Ma Xiaowei. "There, that's her. What do you think? This isn't a picture from six thousand years ago; she is our Thirteenth Sister, ranked above me."

This revelation stunned Ma Xiaowei so much that she remained silent even after dinner. Seeing how upset she was, I found an excuse to send Linglong and Yun Yao back to their rooms first, then escorted Ma Xiaowei back to the Princess’s tent.

"You can't be serious. Seeing a beautiful woman who is six thousand years old affects you this much?" I asked.

Ma Xiaowei sat on the edge of the bed, clutching my arm. "It's not that, Husband. Tell me honestly, if you can resurrect the dead, does that mean you and those sisters can live forever? At least for several thousand years, like Sister Dragon Girl?"

I nodded. "That should be the case. However, none of us have lived to be six thousand yet, so no one can definitively say."

Hearing my answer, Ma Xiaowei suddenly threw herself onto the bed and began to cry. I reached around from behind, placing my hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong, Xiaowei? Why are you crying over nothing? With the relationship we have now, is there anything you can’t tell me?"

Ma Xiaowei sobbed, "Husband, I don't want to leave you."

I replied, "I never said you had to leave me. Didn't we agree you don't need to worry about these things? Just wait for my palanquin to arrive at the Imperial Palace to marry you."

Ma Xiaowei wailed, "But, but I will grow old! I don't want you to see me when I’m ugly, and I don't want to leave you alone. I love you, and I want to be with you for all eternity."

I laughed softly. This was another person longing for eternal life. Of course, Ma Xiaowei's reason was different; she couldn't bear to leave my side and didn't want me to see her youthful beauty fade.

I embraced Ma Xiaowei from behind, gently massaging her full breasts beneath her bodice. "Xiaowei, you are so foolish. If Yun Yao and the others can remain eternally young, would I abandon you alone? We lack the conditions to achieve this on Twin Stars. Once we return to Earth, with Qingqing and Little Xue's help, you can maintain your youth however you wish. Even if we can't return to Earth, I will find the sorcerer in Huyang Prefecture; he can certainly help you then."

Ma Xiaowei wiped away her tears. "Really? Don't lie to me. And Xiaorui needs help, and my younger brother, and my Imperial Father..."

"Enough, enough. I promise you everything. But all this requires returning to Earth first. You aren't even sixteen yet, why the rush? Look at Susu; she’s nearly thirty, is she in a hurry?"

Ma Xiaowei leaned into my chest. "They don't have to worry about aging anymore, so naturally, they aren't in a rush. But Sister Susu doesn't look nearly thirty at all; she looks like a woman in her early twenties. Yet, the mature, captivating aura she carries is something us children can never emulate. Do you like that very much?"

I nodded. "I like you just the same. In public, you are an untouchable princess; behind closed doors, you are my sweet little darling who lets me do as I please."

Ma Xiaowei took my hand and guided it to her posterior. "The night you left through the back passage, I still feel a strange sensation. Will there be a problem? I feel like this isn't truly making me your twenty-third wife. Wait for me for another day or two, and don't go messing around with those little vixens."

I lovingly stroked Ma Xiaowei’s backside. "There won't be a problem. Once you get used to it often, it will feel normal. I promise you. Should I stay tonight then?"

"Don't," Ma Xiaowei shook her head, "Don't you often stay out all night; Yun Yao will notice. Besides, Xiao Rui will come over once she's bathed. You had better leave now; if that big gossip finds out about us, she'll spread it everywhere."

He squeezed the body already his beneath the court dress. "Fine then, I'll find a way to slip out tomorrow night. Take good care of Xiao Rui for me."

Ma Xiaowei kissed him. "Got it, you big rogue. But she's still young; I don't want her getting too involved in these things, lest she learns bad habits like me."

The next morning, I was dragged out of bed by my ear by Linglong. All the generals were already waiting outside. How I missed the days on Earth, when things weren't so arduous; my wives handled most of the burdens, and I could sleep until noon while the diligent ladies flew off to their offices early, not returning until nightfall. I truly felt I owed them.

Little Dingzi stepped forward. "My Lord, everything is prepared; we await your command. We've installed fifteen trebuchets on each of the three hilltops. We have ample ammunition prepared overnight. Shall we commence the attack immediately?"

I asked, "Are the troops at the three city gates in position?"

Gu Qi replied, "Reporting, My Lord, they are in position, and the scaling ladders are ready. Fifteen thousand soldiers await your order to assault the city."

I then turned to A'San, who was leading ten thousand soldiers to guard the camp and intercept reinforcements. "Pull out six thousand troops as a reserve force. Once General Gu's contingent advances deep into Hongping County, you will be responsible for guarding the three city gates."

A'San acknowledged the order. "Yes, My Lord. However, isn't having only four thousand men for camp defense and reinforcing movements a bit too dangerous?"

I said, "Ah Mao's intelligence is accurate; no reinforcements will arrive for now. It would be a waste to keep ten thousand men idle. Go now. All units, act according to the flag signals from the hilltops. We'll meet inside Hongping County later. I wish everyone immediate success."

Climbing to the highest vantage point, I looked down at the city gates below. Our seizure of the three hilltops overnight had clearly thrown the garrison troops on the walls below into a panic. They kept looking up to check our situation. Occasionally, someone would loose a few cold arrows, but shooting upwards from below made it impossible to hit the summit. A few small detachments even sallied out from the gates to try and reclaim the hills, but the five thousand infantry stationed outside the gates drove them back into the city with a volley of spears and arrows.

The continuous dry weather provided the perfect opportunity for this siege. Although the battlements and towers were stone-built, the barracks beneath the walls were tents. Furthermore, the grease mixed into our incendiary bombs ensured that fire alone would be trouble enough for them.

Finally, I managed to persuade the two supervisors to remain in the camp. Otherwise, Ma Xiaorui would have wanted to come out and watch the excitement. As long as Ma Xiaowei could be with me, she feared nothing about where they went. But I dared not bring them; their ability to protect themselves was too low, and my superpowers were temporarily lost. Should I fail to look after one of them, it would be a lifetime of regret.

The fifteen trebuchets were lined up, their directions already aimed at the city gates. I gave Shi Shan the order for the assault camp to open fire. This time, I demanded precision and stability, so I temporarily assigned the experienced Shi Shan to command the siege battalion.

The incendiary bomb family had a new addition: tightly bundled flammable, slow-burning fodder soaked in grease, with a stone weight in the center. Once lit, they were hurled from the trebuchets. Upon impact, the grease-soaked, fiercely burning fodder would scatter, creating an inferno that was extremely difficult to extinguish.

As the flag signal went out, the forty-five trebuchets from the three hilltops simultaneously launched their incendiary bombs. Boom, boom. Several rounds consistently struck the battlements. The stone weights in the fodder bundles rolled forward, leaving trails of fire dragons. Some payloads weren't stones but jars of oil, making the flames even more ferocious when fueled by the spilled oil. The defending soldiers' clothes were quickly ignited, and those who couldn't beat out the flames instantly became living torches. Others were hit directly by the bombs; unless they immediately jumped into water, survival was unlikely. There wasn't enough water nearby to fight the fires, and the burning soldiers running everywhere only worsened the blaze.

After three waves of incendiary bombs struck the towers and walls, the target extended forward. The temporary tents pitched beneath the city walls were all ignited. Looking down from the mountains, the area was filled with thick smoke and flames. The desperate cries of the Red Scarf rebels became a chaotic din.

After surveying the scene, I issued a new combat directive: "Continue extending the attack point forward! Hit all the way to the Red Scarf banner in the city center!" Ah Mao already had intelligence that this was the residence of the Eastern King and the defending general, Chun Sheng. Even if we couldn't burn those two alive, frightening them first would ensure they lacked the will to fight when Gu Qi's fifteen thousand men arrived.

The incendiary bombs advanced. I said to Gu Fei, "Give General Gu the order to assault the city. Instruct them to avoid the flames and secure the city gates themselves. Act quickly; the rebels guarding the gates are busy fighting the fire—this is their weakest moment of defense."

Gu Fei waved a large flag, signaling the runners at the foot of the hill. Soon, the rhythmic pounding of siege drums sounded. I had not only conducted extensive flag signal training within the army but had also introduced drums and gongs to boost the soldiers' morale. This was pure pragmatism, but it was highly effective. Like people listening to music, once the rhythm is set, they easily become immersed. High morale ensures victory.

The fifteen thousand assaulting soldiers had already soaked their clothes. They erected scaling ladders and climbed onto the battlements unopposed. The Red Scarf troops, scattering from the fire, had no will to fight and began retreating into the city. Without any suspense, the three city gates were opened in under half an hour, and the main force rapidly advanced inside.

"Order General A'San to immediately take charge of the gates and extinguish the fires. Then notify General Gu's division to advance into the city according to the intelligence targets. I want the entire operation concluded by tomorrow morning."

After the flag signal, the forces at the three city gates rapidly swept inward, and their positions were quickly filled by others. The fires gradually subsided, and the trebuchets stopped launching incendiary bombs, instead hurling Sky-Shaking Thunder bombs according to flag signals relayed from within the city.

The defending force of thirty thousand, claimed by the Eastern King, could not withstand this one-sided assault. Everyone only thought of escape, terrified by the fire and the explosions. The few organized counter-attacks were quickly smashed by the formidable Imperial Guards. General Chun Sheng, leading his personal guard contingent of a thousand men, bravely defended the general's mansion. Even after the Imperial Guards suffered over a hundred casualties, they couldn't break through the street blockade. Reinforcements arrived one after another, and bolt-throwers were set up. The exchange of arrows had turned into the Imperial Guards roasting pork buns, while the trebuchets on the hills, following the flag signals, hammered the main street outside the general's mansion. Despite unintentionally causing some friendly fire casualties, the target area was decimated. The general's mansion, already burning, could no longer be held. The Eastern King, leading about a thousand men, carved a bloody path toward the city gates.

The city fire burned throughout the night before finally dying down. Even with my benevolent heart, it was useless; war is cruel. If the fire attack hadn't first disrupted their formation and caused the city gates to fall, my fifteen thousand assault troops would have suffered far more casualties.

Around midnight, after leaving Ma Xiaowei, I received an update on the battle progress; it was already nearing its end. Only occasional skirmishes occurred between scattered remnants of the enemy. By morning, the city was eerily silent, with only lingering wisps of smoke rising from various spots.

Linglong brought me water to wash my face. "Wash up, Master. I truly don't know what you're thinking. Why have you been so eager to report progress to the supervisors lately, and without letting us accompany you? Are you and Sister Yun Yao doing other things behind our backs?"

I feigned innocence. "The war situation is tight lately. What could we possibly be doing? What do you think we'd be doing?"

Linglong smiled. "I don't know, and you'll just tell me harsh words again. Xiao Rui is right; you are a rogue."

Linglong was wearing a pale pink, tight-fitting military uniform she had made herself. Most people in the camp knew she and Yun Yao were women, so they no longer insisted on wearing men's clothing every day. Looking at her graceful figure, I said, "Linglong, you've grown taller."

Linglong shyly lowered her head. "What does it matter if I've grown taller? I'm so thin; you don't like that, do you?"

I couldn't bear to see Linglong disappointed every time. I picked up her head and kissed her cheek. "You're only twelve; you'll fill out later. Besides, I don't only like voluptuous girls. You've seen Chenchen; don't I still like her?"

Linglong awkwardly gestured a couple of times in front of her chest. "I'm learning this from Sister Yun Yao; it really works! You'll be happy later."

I knew what Linglong meant. Girls cared too much about what the man in their heart thought.

"My Lord! My Lord! Good news! Great news..."

Bang! The door was thrown open, and someone covered head-to-toe in charcoal dust rushed in. Linglong instantly slipped out of my hand; the newcomer clearly realized he had caused trouble. "My Lord, I... I forgot to knock."

I wiped my face with a towel, remaining composed. "Comrade A'San, you are a general now; why are you so flustered over something? Haha, if you hadn't spoken, I genuinely wouldn't have recognized you."

A'San exclaimed, "No, My Lord, it's great news! We've captured that fat pig, the Eastern King!"

Since quelling the rebellion, we hadn't encountered any significant official; capturing the Eastern King alive this time—a King, no less—would surely please the ministers back in Shuangcheng for a while.

"Let's go take a look. What about the defending general, Chun Sheng?"

A'San reported, "General Gu's men found his body. He tried to slip out of the city disguised as a common soldier but was discovered by a search party. In the ensuing confusion, since neither side recognized him as the general, he was inadvertently pierced through the stomach by an arrow."

Arriving at the East Gate, I saw crowds of soldiers, all covered in gray ash. It seemed yesterday's fire had quite an impact. Looking back at the captured soldiers being escorted out, they looked even worse; many had their clothes burned off, and even more were severely burned and needed to be carried. This great fire had ignited many civilian homes. Although I had anticipated this, seeing the devastation inside the city from the gate tower still filled me with some regret.

Another ash-covered figure climbed onto the tower. "My Lord, the Red Scarf army in Hongping County can no longer be found resisting. We have accounted for over twenty-five thousand rebel soldiers inside the city: over five thousand burned or killed, nearly ten thousand wounded, and over ten thousand surrendered and captured. This was another great victory for us. Our forces suffered five hundred thirty-two dead and over two thousand wounded, with only about three hundred serious injuries; the rest of the soldiers only need bandaging and will recover in a few days."

A ten-to-one casualty ratio was satisfactory enough. I patted Gu Qi's shoulder. "Thank you all for your hard work. Let the troops rotate for rest. We will rest here for five days before advancing to Huyang. Last night's fire caused too much destruction to Hongping County. We must do as much as possible to help the common people recover."

Shi Shan stood nearby. "My Lord, we caused destruction today, but it was for better construction tomorrow. As the saying goes, the old must pass for the new to arrive."

Gu Qi chuckled. "Yes, My Lord, Factory Director Shi is right. A short, sharp pain is better than a long, drawn-out one. We have maintained strict discipline regarding the common people since entering the city last night, and they see it. They helped us clear the fire zone first thing this morning."

The original Imperial Guard units maintained strict adherence to military discipline. Initially, I was only worried about the defecting soldiers reorganized from Pingyuan County causing trouble, so I had Ah Mao find an excuse to execute a few as a warning. Indeed, no one dared to violate the 'Three Great Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention' I established. It seems the ancients were right when they said killing a chicken warns the monkeys; if you don't show them some severity, they won't learn to fear.

"This is good," I said. "Dispatch three hundred-man squads to guard the three hilltops. We utilized this loophole to set major fires in the city, but we cannot be sure others won't exploit it. Set up smoke signal towers on the hills; they can also serve as watch posts. If enemy activity is spotted, send a smoke signal."

Gu Qi acknowledged the order and instructed a subordinate deputy to carry it out. Just then, four soldiers escorted a portly man onto the tower. Gu Qi said, "My Lord, General A'San's men captured the Eastern King. Last night, he forced his way through my encirclement with a thousand-man guard and disappeared. Fortunately, General A'San was vigilant, or he would have escaped."

A soldier kicked the back of the Eastern King's knee. "Kneel down before our Marshal!"

The fat man seemed to have some backbone; he swayed from the kick but didn't fall. I asked, "You are the Eastern King of the Red Scarf Army?"

"Indeed," the Eastern King replied stiffly. Seeing that his captor was merely a young, smooth-faced man, he instantly showed contempt.

Since we had already won, I ignored the Eastern King's attitude. "We have now captured Hongping County. As a defeated general, what do you have to say?"

"Nothing," the Eastern King responded quite curtly.

I wasn't angered, as it wasn't worth the effort. Killing him would be easy. Why waste anger on a man who had already lost his freedom? "Very well, General A'San, dispatch a hundred-man squad to escort him back to Shuangcheng. How the Emperor deals with this rebel is no longer our concern. However, I heard the Ministry of Justice has re-instituted the torture methods unused for years. They’ll need someone to test them out. Send him off quickly; perhaps they've been waiting for him. Thick-skinned and fleshy, he’s just right, less likely to break easily."

The guards started dragging the Eastern King away when he suddenly spoke, "The Ma family has lost the people's support. If you have any foresight, surrender to us, the Red Scarf Army. The Prince of Shou is a true incarnation descended from heaven; he has cultivated the Elixir of Eternal Life. He is the future ruler of our Shuangcheng nation. You best release me, or you will regret it sooner or later."

A guard stepped forward and kicked the Eastern King to the ground. "Stop talking nonsense in front of the Marshal! 'True god descended from heaven'? I think he's worse than dog crap! Release you? In your dreams!"

I ordered the guard back and asked the Eastern King, "Have you taken that Elixir of Eternal Life?"

The Eastern King was honest enough to shake his head. "Daoist Zhao Qing only refined three pills of Eternal Life. After the Prince of Shou consumed one, his spirit was refreshed, and all illness vanished. The Consort's health had always been poor, but after taking one, her health returned. The Prince also had the symptoms of chronic weakness and sickness removed after taking one. This pill should only exist in heaven; how often can it be seen on earth?"

I interrupted him. "I'm not here to listen to your sales pitch. If you have nothing else, go wait in the jail for now."

The Eastern King said, "Don't you understand what I mean? As long as you lead your troops to surrender to the Prince of Shou, when the Prince is pleased, he will surely reward you with an Elixir of Eternal Life. Then you will enjoy wealth and honor for eternity, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

I mocked, "He burned through three already; what else is there to reward?"

The Eastern King pressed, "The first furnace yielded three pills, and they were preliminary Elixirs of Eternal Life with limited potency. As long as the materials are gathered, Daoist Zhao Qing can refine a second, better batch of medicine. Then all the Princes—East, South, West, North, Heaven, and Earth—can each receive one. And for the great service you render the Prince of Shou, having him reward you with one is no problem at all. I guarantee it with my head: release me, and you shall have eternal life."

I replied, "Why should I earn merit for the Prince of Shou? When we march into Huyang, I’ll capture that Daoist Zhao Qing myself and have him refine several batches for me. Why must I stingily beg the Prince of Shou for one? Guards! Lock this fellow up first, and send him to Shuangcheng tomorrow. If the Emperor is merciful and doesn't execute him, have someone buy him from the Emperor so he can go sell medicinal herbs. He'd be good at that."

The crowd burst into laughter. Two guards quickly came and carried the man away. A'San asked, "My Lord, is there really such an Elixir of Eternal Life? No one has ever heard of anyone living forever, unless they are immortals, but no one has truly seen gods or ghosts, so we can't be sure."

I said, "If it truly exists, I will certainly have that Zhao Qing refine one for each of you. I suspect it's just a pill to cure illness. If eternal life were so easy, the world would be full of monsters."

Gu Qi agreed. "I also doubt eternal life is real, but we are deeply grateful for your concern for your subordinates, My Lord. It is our fortune to follow you."

A flash of insight struck me: Zhao Qing? Is the alchemist's name Zhao Qing? Could I find someone of my own lineage on the Twin Stars? Qing... Qingqing... No way, am I becoming delusional from missing them? But if there is anyone knowledgeable in medicine, this world has none surpassing the missing Hua Qingqing. Her research on pharmaceuticals was top-tier even on Earth.

With this thought, I lost all inclination to remain there. I hurriedly made arrangements for my work and returned to the main camp, summoning Ah Mao to personally investigate the Daoist named Zhao Qing in Huyang Prefecture. At the very least, I needed to know if he was male or female. If she turned out to be female, heaven help me, she was highly likely to be Hua Qingqing, and her adopting the surname Zhao suggested she still remembered me. Heaven has eyes; I hope all my assumptions are true.

Ah Mao departed, and Yun Yao asked me, "Brother Zhao, are you suspecting that Zhao Qing is Sister Hua Qingqing?"

"Yes," I replied. "Otherwise, why take the surname Zhao, and include the character Qing, and be skilled in medicine?"

Yun Yao said, "But Sister Qingqing never knew how to refine the Elixir of Eternal Life. She doesn't have the Blood Flower Essence extracted from Little Xue; how can there be talk of eternal life?"

"I guess 'Eternal Life' is just a hype tactic," I said. "It's probably just a pill synthesized from common Chinese herbs that can cure illness and maintain health. But by branding it with the name of eternal life, Qingqing's safety is guaranteed; everyone will fawn over her and respect her."

Yun Yao nodded. "That's right. With Sister Qingqing's intelligence, she would certainly devise such a method. Should we go to Huyang immediately? I miss her too."

"I miss her too, but we must wait until the situation in Hongping County stabilizes. Then, we will proceed ahead of the main army. We’ll ride hard into the city first to investigate Zhao Qing's background. If she truly is Qingqing, what if we accidentally injure her during the assault on Huyang?"

Yun Yao nodded. "But Brother Zhao, going in alone like this is too dangerous."

Linglong added, "Yes, I disagree. After these few battles, you have become the spiritual leader of this force. As long as you stand before the soldiers, they know that no battle is unwinnable. If you are absent or something happens, the bandit suppression army will be finished."

"It's not as exaggerated as you say," I countered. "Besides, don't I have you two protecting me? It's settled. This is a good chance to see what the Prince of Shou looks like, since he's caused such a stir. If there's an opportunity, maybe we can even plan a pre-battle uprising like in Pingyuan County."

The two women knew arguing was futile. Linglong quietly went to find Ma Xiaorui. Ma Xiaorui was the supervisor; perhaps her words would carry more weight. However, Ma Xiaorui currently had to listen to Ma Xiaowei. Hearing that they were going into the city to find Hua Qingqing, Ma Xiaowei lost her temper, but she feared later being accused of jealousy, so she tacitly agreed without a word.